Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Boxed Set (65 page)

“Damn. Beautiful and brainy. You’re one hot babe, Tasha.”

Pleasure surged through her. Drew might not return her love, but he accepted her—completely accepted her—as she really was. No, even better. He accepted the woman she wanted to be.

“Let’s go then and get this party over with. The sooner we do, the sooner we can come back here and celebrate on our own.”

Natasha eyed the phone and let Drew’s admiration cloak her in confidence.

“I have one last thing I need to do. Why don’t you go ahead and I’ll meet you at the party.”

“I can wait.”

“No. Please, I need to do this alone. I’ll meet you there, okay?”

“Sure, babe.” He brushed a kiss over her temple and slid the back of his finger over her bodice with a wicked grin. “I can’t wait. The sooner this party starts, the sooner I can bring you back here and make love to you all night.”

Natasha’s breath caught, wondering if Drew had any idea what he’d said. Sex, he said that a lot. Getting it on, do the nasty. Those she’d expect. But make love? Her heart stuttered, then raced in joy.

Could this night get any better?

“I can’t wait,” she said, seeing him out. He left and she leaned against the closed door with a huge grin splitting her face.

He cared. He might not realize how much, yet. But he cared. A lot. That had to be a sign that she was on the right track. Natasha breathed deep and smiled. There was only one thing to do now.

Resolve steely in her spine, she marched over to the phone and with shaking fingers, dialed her parents’ number. Friday night at six. They’d both be home unless Father had a business engagement.

“Mother, hello.” Natasha took a deep breath and asked, “Is Father in? I need to speak with you both.”

Ten minutes and the beginning of a splitting headache later, Natasha hung up the phone and massaged her temples.

Well, that had sucked. Never one to listen to the wants or needs of others, her parents—first her father, then her mother—had tried to bulldoze right over her reasoning. When that hadn’t worked, they’d hauled out the Stover Family toolbox—complete with guilt, threats and passive aggressive nastiness. In the end, her mother had assured her she’d regret her choice. But that, like the generous parents that they were, they’d accept her back once she’d sufficiently apologized.

Natasha promised herself that day would never come.

* * *

Drew drummed his fingers on the white linen tablecloth and with an impatient glance at his watch, gestured for the passing waiter to refill his water glass. His third. Good thing it wasn’t booze. There was nothing more pitiful than a guy sitting at a party drinking himself into a pissed-off stupor.

“Can I get you anything else?” the waiter asked. Ruf had definitely pulled out all the stops for this little shindig. He’d rented the ballroom, hired a live deejay, and had arranged for an open bar and servers who wandered around with trays full of appetizers.

“Who the hell is he trying to impress?”

“Sorry, sir?”

“Nothing, sorry. No, just water is fine. Thanks.”

This irritation was a new thing to Drew. After all, he never expected Audra to be on time for anything, so he knew it was pointless to be annoyed when she was late.

And while he’d have much rather brought Natasha to the party himself, he understood her well enough to know when she needed some time alone. After all, she’d snagged her dream today, and that was bound to make her nervous.

And him a little jealous. He wondered what had happened to his dreams. How long had it been since he’d cared? He hadn’t even thought about his plans to play pool professionally until Tasha had asked him about it. But she was special that way. The kind of woman who made a guy believe in dreams.

Had he ever understood a woman like he did Tasha? Had he ever cared to? It was something to think about. Or not, since the whole idea had him a little wary.

“Your water, sir.”

Drew took the glass and started to thank the waiter.

Then he saw Natasha.

Wow.

The woman was simply stunning. Each time he saw her, he wanted her more than ever. How the hell was he going to say goodbye to her? Drew eyed the way the shiny red fabric molded her breasts and sighed. Maybe he’d figure out a way so that he didn’t have to.

His gaze shifted to Audra and he winced. Did the girl have to wear such crazy clothes? Her dress was all spotted like some wildcat, and the way the skirt was all ripped and shredded, it looked as if she’d tangled with its claws. From the expression on Ruf’s face, he was trying to figure out how to rip the rest from her.

Drew stood to meet them, glowering, and slid a hand down Tasha’s bare back.

“Party time,” Ruf announced jovially.

“I’d much rather deal with business first, if you don’t mind,” Natasha said quickly. There was a tension in her tone that hadn’t been there earlier. Drew looked closely and saw furrows in her brow, as if she had a headache.

“Later, Sweet Thing. I was tied up taking care of a little project of mine, so I need to circulate first.” He gave Audra a slimy look and tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “We’ll be back soon. You two have a good time.”

Drew looked at Tasha. “So, what kind of good time are you up for?”

“Probably not the same kind you’re wanting.” She laughed a little stiffly, but her frown eased. “How about we mingle? I doubt Ruf would invite any competing manufacturers, but now that I’m a businesswoman, I need to learn to network.”

And what a networker she was. It was probably her ritzy upbringing, but Natasha had a way of moving through the crowd that was pure poetry. She’d made introductions, chatted innocuously, all the while feeling people out to see if there were any solid contacts.

“Babe, you work the room like a pro,” Drew said as they took a moment together to sip their drinks and look through the crowd.

“I don’t know about that, but I am feeling pretty great about this. It’s like nothing can go wrong tonight.”

Just then, a bell sounded and they both turned to watch Ruf climb onto a barstool. Like Rhett Butler addressing the Southern Gentlemen of Tara, he harrumphed and waited until he had everyone’s attention.

“Thank you all for coming to celebrate with
Perfect Passion
.” He guffawed at his pun, and after a few seconds, the room laughed with him. “I must say we’ve all had some fun this week, haven’t we?”

There was a half-hearted applause.

“As a few of you might know,
Perfect Passion
is the perfect place to launch a lingerie career. For models, for our party consultants, and for designers. Tonight, I’ve the great pleasure of introducing the newest designer to join the
Perfect
Passion
team.” He paused for effect. Audra beamed and smoothed her hair. Then Ruf motioned to Natasha. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to announce that Natasha Stover and
Sensual Supports
will be joining my team.”

Drew whooped in pleasure with the rest of the crowd as he looked at Natasha, whose porcelain complexion was flushed in pleasure. Then he glanced over at Audra. The pissed, I’m-gonna-rip-your-head-off-and-scream-obscenities-down-your-neck look on his sister’s face put an end to Drew’s cheers. He stiffened in preparation for whatever fit Audra was about to throw.

Drew shifted to the balls of his feet and kept careful watch on his sister. Before he could say anything, both women, without a single glance at each other, stepped forward.

Ruf jumped down from the stool, and—either oblivious or stupid—just grinned and rubbed his hands together like a cartoon villain.

Drew and the two women reached Ruf at the same time. The crowd dispersed around them, the partiers obviously a lot more interested in dancing and drinking than contracts.

Drew was glad it had thinned out. Because when his sister had her tantrum, the less witnesses the better.

* * *

Natasha was proud of herself. She hadn’t given in to the urge to throw her arms in the air and dance in triumph. Who knew it was so hard to be a gracious winner?

“Ruf, thank you. I’m sure I’ll be quite happy working with Perfect Passion.”

“This is bullshit.”

Natasha glared at Audra. Obviously, it was much more difficult to be a gracious loser than a gracious winner.

“Audra,” Drew growled.

The younger woman ignored her brother and poked one lethal fingernail into Ruf’s chest.

“You promised me I’d have that account. You worthless lying jerk. You said if I...” She trailed off even as the color in her cheeks rose.

Natasha’s eyes widened and she joined Audra in glaring at Ruf. What had the creep bargained with?

“Now, Lil’ Darlin’, don’t get all pissy here. You know this is just a game to you.”

“No. This was all a game to you. Me, I was serious.”

Audra raised her glass and Ruf winced. Natasha held her breath and cringed, sure there was about to be an ugly scene. But Audra just chugged down the last of her wine. Ruf’s face relaxed.

Then Audra dropped the glass on the marble floor, where it shattered in a hundred very loud pieces.

Everyone looked their way.

Ruf’s face was flushed with humiliation. Audra smirked.

“You might want to think twice about making promises you can’t keep,” she chided loudly. “Cause that shit about a woman scorned doesn’t even come close to what I’m gonna do to you.”

Audra leaned close and hissed something at Ruf that made him turn so pale, he looked like he was about to throw up. Then, not meeting Drew or Natasha’s eyes, she swept out of the room.

“Well now,” Ruf said, still looking a little queasy. “Let’s talk business. Can’t let a little lover’s tiff stand in our way, can we?”

“Um, no. Of course not,” Natasha agreed. Though she wished she could have a few minutes to clear her head after Audra’s dramatic departure. Or at least wait until the glass had been swept up from around their feet.

Besides, she felt horrible for Audra. Although she knew the younger woman was her main competition, Natasha was sure Audra had too much good taste to actually go so far as to sleep with Rufus. Even after spending four nights watching the girl flirt, flaunt her sexuality, and wrap the wannabe-Southern gentleman around her black and chrome tipped pinkie, there had to be something else going on here.

She felt the tension radiating off Drew, and realized she’d better hurry and finish this conversation before her lover beat her new business associate over the head with his wine glass.

“Ruf, I’m thrilled to hear you’ve awarded
Sensual Supports
the contract. I look forward to nailing down all the details with you tomorrow. But I do have a few other irons in the fire, so to speak, and need your answer on the new line I proposed last night.”

“Hmm, yeah. About that, Sweet Thing, here’s the deal.” Ruf brushed his hand over his mustache and hummed a little.

Nerves rippled through Natasha’s stomach. What was he up to?

“Have either of you ever heard of the cosmic mind theory?”

Natasha glanced at Drew, and he looked as confused as she was. They both shook their heads.

“It goes like this. The cosmos spits out a few new ideas on a regular basis, and a bunch of people latch onto those ideas and make them their own. I’d have to guess that’s what happened with the support design of your bra, Sweet Thing.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“See, I hadn’t said much before, because, well, you’re new to the industry and all. I know you wouldn’t deliberately plagiarize my design. So the cosmic mind theory is about the only thing that makes sense.”

The music pounded its beat through her head as Natasha tried to deny the suspicion growing in her mind.

“Are you trying to claim you have the same design as Natasha?” Drew asked, having obviously come to the same conclusion.

“Nope, I’m stating that her design is remarkably similar to mine. The one I planned to unveil tomorrow at the convention. Now, I would never accuse a lovely lady of stealing, so there isn’t any point in dragging attorneys into this whole thing. But I’m sure you can see why I’d appreciate it if you quit pitching that new line you mentioned, hmm, Sweet Thing?”

“I didn’t steal any design,” Natasha exclaimed. She wished she had as much nerve as Audra. If she had, she’d have kicked Rufus Randall in the knee—or someplace more satisfying—and stomped out herself.

“Now don’t get all worked up. Like I said, I’m offering you the contract. That little design of yours was nice but hardly revolutionary. I’m sure you’ll come up with some great things for my line though.” He gave her a smarmy smile and a pat on her shoulder. Natasha resisted the urge to wipe her skin. “Be at my booth tomorrow when I unveil my design and you’ll see how close yours was, if you want. But, like I said, I had it first.”

“Can you prove that?” Drew accused.